Besser Museum
Besser Museum
4.5
Speciality MuseumsScience MuseumsObservatories & PlanetariumsArt MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
About
Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is an educational institution dedicated to providing the public with enriching cultural experiences in art, history and science. The Museum’s eight-acre campus offers a modern 42,000 square foot facility containing a collection of over 47,000 artifacts. The Museum houses a full dome planetarium and a two-story Foucault pendulum. Besser Museum also offers the unique opportunity to dig and keep all the Devonian period fossils you find in our outdoor Lafarge Fossil Park exhibit. Besser Museum art exhibits rotate through an extensive collection of fine art with works from local, regional, national, and world renowned artists such as Dali, Cezanne, Renoir, Picasso, Warhol, Rivera, Chihuly, Clewell and more!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
95 reviews
Excellent
64
Very good
28
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Dr. Butts
Michigan43 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
A truly fantastic museum with creative installations — fun and learning for all! We stayed for one hour but I recommend two, maybe more. Great diversity of traditional & modern art, recreated historical experiences, hands-on learning, preserved species, outdoor installations, physical & natural science, etc. etc. Perfect for all ages.
Written 12 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah P
5 contributions
Apr 2021
We visited while on a drive through Alpena. We weren’t expecting much. A $5 per person hodge-podge of art, history, and a planetarium? Strange.
I was so wrong. This place is a gem.
Husband and I had a blast here. It is exactly a blend of history, art, and science. We did the planetarium show (an extra $5 per person). This is a must-do. The astronomer in residence is knowledgeable, funny, and candid. We watched the “Michigan Skies” show and learned a tiny bit of what we see every night in our home state. It was fascinating.
We spent three hours there!
I was so wrong. This place is a gem.
Husband and I had a blast here. It is exactly a blend of history, art, and science. We did the planetarium show (an extra $5 per person). This is a must-do. The astronomer in residence is knowledgeable, funny, and candid. We watched the “Michigan Skies” show and learned a tiny bit of what we see every night in our home state. It was fascinating.
We spent three hours there!
Written 11 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessika
Canton, MI370 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
One of the only places we found open in Alpena to visit during COVID, but worth a stop any time. My kids adored the planetarium and the outside area is a real treat. Toddlers will love the nature trail and out buildings. Fossil area was a big hit, and employees were very patient and knowledgable. Great spot!
Written 13 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kat H
Alpena, MI242 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
The Besser, as we affectionately refer to the Jesse Besser Museum is not what I grew up thinking a museum is. Practically from the day the doors opened with Bob Haltiner, author, raconteur & knowledgeable historian there to 'talk story', the exhibits and programs just did not fit the 'stodgy mold'. This was a place where you turned a corner to see up close & personal a lifelike forest animal looking back at you. It's a place where the ever changing displays reflect the people & Alpena as seen through the eyes of the Besser Staff.
A year ago their special showing of WWII as experienced by people of Alpena drew critical acclaim. They were astonished at the gold mine of information, artifacts, uniforms, equipment & more that were given to them or loaned to them to tell the story through our eyes. Because it was such a success, the Museum Curators decided to honor our Viet Nam Veterans that was to co-inside with the air show Wings Over Alpena. Sequestration & other factors put the kibosh on that. But the Museum went ahead with their plan to honor our veterans of that war. It is well worth the drive to Alpena to attend. They have a website www.bessermuseum.org and you can see other events & happenings there. Every 3rd Saturday is FREE family day.
Outside the building is an interactive place where kids can hack away at claiming a trilobyte or other fossil from the Devonian Coral Reef that lies below this sunrise city. The planetarium offers excellent programs as well & there are many other items of interest. On the lawn outside is a HUGE sculpture of a soldier's face & helmet courtesy of Moran Iron Works of Onaway, Michigan. It is just one example of art that abounds in and around the place.
A year ago their special showing of WWII as experienced by people of Alpena drew critical acclaim. They were astonished at the gold mine of information, artifacts, uniforms, equipment & more that were given to them or loaned to them to tell the story through our eyes. Because it was such a success, the Museum Curators decided to honor our Viet Nam Veterans that was to co-inside with the air show Wings Over Alpena. Sequestration & other factors put the kibosh on that. But the Museum went ahead with their plan to honor our veterans of that war. It is well worth the drive to Alpena to attend. They have a website www.bessermuseum.org and you can see other events & happenings there. Every 3rd Saturday is FREE family day.
Outside the building is an interactive place where kids can hack away at claiming a trilobyte or other fossil from the Devonian Coral Reef that lies below this sunrise city. The planetarium offers excellent programs as well & there are many other items of interest. On the lawn outside is a HUGE sculpture of a soldier's face & helmet courtesy of Moran Iron Works of Onaway, Michigan. It is just one example of art that abounds in and around the place.
Written 28 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bud065
Estero, FL44 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
We learned so much about the history of that area, including the fact that it was inhabited 10,000 years ago.
Written 22 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole Rovig
East Lansing, MI377 contributions
Sept 2017 • Family
The upstairs exhibits focus upon the concrete industry, founding of the area and is quite interesting. Downstairs there is a great local wildlife exhibit. In the back yard are a refurbished old boat and a fossil pit in which you can dig. Fossils abound! It's loads of fun. Connected to the community college.
Written 7 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarahepike
2 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
Since I was a little girl our family always enjoyed our time at Jessie Besser Museum. I had the privilage to introduce it to my two little girls. The old town portion is still my favorite thing to see. Also the planetarium which although still looks like it did in the 80's was awesome. Everyone should make it a pount to visit this gem!
Written 3 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ekimilopan
61 contributions
This place really packs a lot into a smaller area.
The Viet Nam exhibit was a chilling look back at this war. Very well done.
It's neat how they have art, history, science, and some industry in here. Well worth a visit.
The Viet Nam exhibit was a chilling look back at this war. Very well done.
It's neat how they have art, history, science, and some industry in here. Well worth a visit.
Written 23 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
484karlc
Alpena322 contributions
Sept 2019
Considering Alpena is a small town, this museum is full of interesting exhibits, and all the museum pieces are wonderfully displayed. The historical parts are wonderful showing how the Indians lived as well as how the early pioneers colonized the area.
Written 3 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lois B
Wauseon, OH89 contributions
Aug 2019
We loved this museum. The displays were excellent. We felt that we knew the people and places of the area by visiting this wonderful museum. Great history!
Written 22 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My father donated some brick forms called little brick machines. His name is RODNEY Latzig. My brother in law, Bill Mulligan sent them to you. My father is 83 and would like to see them at your museum. Are they on display? We could bring him from Illinois this summer. Thank you for your time. Wendie Temple
Written 22 December 2015
Best to call the museum and ask them. 989-356 2202
Written 23 December 2015
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